The Formula One driver’s wife Corinna Betschi has demanded privacy while the star remains seriously ill following a brain injury, telling reporters: “Something serious has happened.”
Her full statement to reporters reads: “The decision to protect his privacy from the public has been taken in Michael’s interest.
“We have made it very clear that something serious has happened.”
The statement left Mr Schumacher’s fans worried his condition may have worsened – although the “something serious” may also refer to his accident.
Considered to be one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, Mr Schumacher is suffering from a serious brain injury after a skiing accident.
The legendary driver is receiving £115,000-a-week treatment following the brain injury.
However on Friday there was fresh hope the Formula One star could get the “medical miracle” his family has been hoping for.
He was said to be doing “well in the circumstances”, leading to hopes his condition was improving after six months in a coma following the December 2013 accident.
He is currently being looked after at his home by Lake Geneva where he receives constant care from a team of 15 physicians and nurses.
The German ex-driver’s family rarely speak publicly about his condition.
However his team were recently forced to deny claims that he was able to talk after they appeared in the German press.